I bought this bike new this season and have put about 1200 miles on it so far. While I live and train in a fairly windy area (Hood River, OR)- today was on the high side- steady 30 mph with gusts to 40-45.
Dropping down a 6% grade the road turns about 90 degrees to the prevailing winds and I was getting tossed like a rag doll. Scared me to death- and never got into the aero bars because of it. Never had this problem on my road bike. I’m 165 lbs and just had regular wheels (30 mm deep) on.
I’m thinking the xtra large downtube (there is no seat tube) was just a bit too much area to the wind at angles of 45-90 degrees.
I was getting ready to buy some 404’s or a Hed Alps/3spoke combo but now I’m scared to do so. On the orther hand- perhaps a bit more “bite” from larger rims would help offset and bufffeting by the frame. I’m getting really nervous about Kona after today’s ride.
Any other Kestrel riders note this? Kuota and a few others have large side surface areas also. Any opinions / suggestions??
Hmmmm…actually I don’t know what to tell you. I have KM40 and have ridden it with zipp 404’s in windy weather with no problems to speak of and I weigh about 10 pounds less that you. The issue may be more the difference in geometry than the actual frame design. Also, if your used to a road bike the feel just may be different and you might have to get used to it. It could be just me, but I found the bike to handle winds very well even with 404’s on.
I bought this bike new this season and have put about 1200 miles on it so far. While I live and train in a fairly windy area (Hood River, OR)- today was on the high side- steady 30 mph with gusts to 40-45.
Dropping down a 6% grade the road turns about 90 degrees to the prevailing winds and I was getting tossed like a rag doll. Scared me to death- and never got into the aero bars because of it. Never had this problem on my road bike. I’m 165 lbs and just had regular wheels (30 mm deep) on.
I’m thinking the xtra large downtube (there is no seat tube) was just a bit too much area to the wind at angles of 45-90 degrees.
I was getting ready to buy some 404’s or a Hed Alps/3spoke combo but now I’m scared to do so. On the orther hand- perhaps a bit more “bite” from larger rims would help offset and bufffeting by the frame. I’m getting really nervous about Kona after today’s ride.
Any other Kestrel riders note this? Kuota and a few others have large side surface areas also. Any opinions / suggestions??
Thanks-
Marc
If that were the case, then I think a P3 with it’s large downtube AND seattube would be a mess in crosswinds and it’s no different than a Kestrel in my experience. I think it’s a bike-handling matter.
Those are pretty strong winds you’re talking about. Your body has more area than the tubes. I don’t think round tubes vs flat tubes would make much difference in wind like that. I’ve ridden my KM-40 in a pretty good cross wind with a disc and Hed3 on and it did tug a bit but it was managable. You have a great bike. I think you’ll get used to the wind in time since you ride in it a lot.
Mostly relax and let the bike go with the flow a bit … I find that the more one tenses up the more they are affected by crosswinds… and that applies to bicycles and motorcycles alike…
Did you find the handling to be BETTER with the 404’s on??
Maybe you shouldn’t listen to me, there are many people who have reservations about using deep rims or a disk in windy weather, but wind hasn’t really been an issue for me so I tend not to think about. I would have no issues about riding with 404’s in the wind but yes you will probably get blown around a little more with them on. When I first started bike racing I wasn’t very good at handling my bike so I practiced my “sweet skills” a bit by riding on the grass super slow and seeing if I could pick up water bottles without falling over. Also in racing going into corners or sprints there is quite a bit of unintentional bumping so you get used to counterbalancing. In racing I had to get used to protecting my front wheel or if it gets clipped you try to train yourself to steer into it. Mountain biking on technical terrain helped me as well. I am still not a great bike handler compared to some guys I know but I have never beeen the cause of a crash. I am not saying its you, but I haven’t had a problem with 404’s or without and this is actually the first I have ever heard of this bike being twitchy in the wind. Good luck and I agree the KM40 is a sweet ride.
I have this bike also and as someone else has posted just relax the bike will help you out. I have ridden the bike in some pretty strong winds in a race down here with a disc and and a deep front and it tracked real well. The steering on this bike is pretty slow. Also, did you get fitted properly if you have got a real short stem on the bike it could make it a little more twitchy. I think Tom D posted last week about this you can look that up in the archives. Good luck with the bike I love mine…